>>Homers Lead Cubs Past Astros
Jorge Soler and Addison Russell homered to lead Chicago to a 9-5 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday night, moving the Cubs closer to clinching the NL Central.
Soler hit a solo home run as part of Chicago's four-run third, and Russell hit a two-run shot - his 20th of the season - in the fourth as the Cubs built a 9-0 lead.
Chicago extended its lead in the NL Central to 16 games over St. Louis.
Houston fell 9 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West and 3 1/2 back of Toronto and Baltimore in the wild-card race.
Jake Arrieta (17-6) allowed three runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Jose Altuve, Yulieski Gurriel and Evan Gattis hit solo homers for the Astros. Mike Fiers (10-7) was tagged for seven runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Kyle Hendricks (14-7) starts the first game of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. Hendricks leads the majors with a 2.07 ERA. He has allowed three runs or fewer in 19 straight starts.
>>Sale Strong, Not Enough To Overcome Defending Wolrd Champs
Ian Kennedy and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, and the Kansas City Royals beat Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Sunday.
Kendrys Morales homered on Sale's first pitch of the second and Eric Hosmer did the same in the fourth. The Royals won their second straight to stay four games behind Baltimore for the final AL wild-card spot.
Kennedy (11-9) walked four, but Adam Eaton's leadoff single was the only hit off the right-hander in six innings. He improved to 5-0 in his last six starts.
Peter Moylan and Kelvin Herrera each threw a perfect inning before Wade Davis worked around Eaton's single and a walk in the ninth for his 24th save.
AL Central-leading Cleveland visits for four games starting Monday, with RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-6, 3.81 ERA) facing RHP Carlos Carrasco (11-7, 3.15 ERA).
>>Brewers Edge Cardinals
Ryan Braun hit a solo home run in the ninth inning and the Brewers beat St. Louis 2-1 on Sunday, dropping the Cardinals back in the NL wild-card race.
The Cardinals are a half-game behind the Mets for the second wild-card slot.
Braun connected on a 3-2 fastball off Kevin Siegrist (5-3) for his 27th homer of the season and 19th in his career against the Cardinals.
St. Louis had tied it in the eighth when Matt Carpenter doubled and scored on Stephen Piscotty's sacrifice fly off Tyler Thornburg (6-5).
Thornburg struck out three in the ninth.
The Cardinals fell to 32-39 at home this season.
The Brewers' other run came in the first on singles by Scooter Gennett and Braun and a sacrifice fly from Chris Carter.
Milwaukee had just four hits in the game, with Braun getting the only one after the fifth inning.
Zach Davies pitched 7 1-3 innings and gave up one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking one.
Cardinals rookie Luke Weaver allowed three hits in six innings. He struck out eight with one walk.
Mike Leake (9-9) will face Chicago's Kyle Hendricks (14-7) on Monday night at Busch Stadium.
